The Sacred Icon of the Panagia Kamariani was discovered in a miraculous manner during the 19th century in the city of Halicarnassus in Asia Minor.
There lived there a pious Christian woman, to whom the Panagia appeared in a dream, in the form of a dignified woman dressed in black, telling her to leave her house because it belonged to her. The dream was repeated four times.
On the fourth occasion, the Mother of God revealed to her that her icon was buried inside the house and indicated the exact place where they should dig to find it. The woman searched for the icon and found it beneath an arch (kamara), and for this reason it was given the name “Kamariani.”
The discovery of the icon was followed by many miracles, and the inhabitants of Halicarnassus decided to build a church in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos, where they placed the icon. Around the church there was a colonnade with many arches, which, according to another version, is what gave the icon its name. The church survives to this day, though in a state of abandonment.
There lived there a pious Christian woman, to whom the Panagia appeared in a dream, in the form of a dignified woman dressed in black, telling her to leave her house because it belonged to her. The dream was repeated four times.
On the fourth occasion, the Mother of God revealed to her that her icon was buried inside the house and indicated the exact place where they should dig to find it. The woman searched for the icon and found it beneath an arch (kamara), and for this reason it was given the name “Kamariani.”
The discovery of the icon was followed by many miracles, and the inhabitants of Halicarnassus decided to build a church in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos, where they placed the icon. Around the church there was a colonnade with many arches, which, according to another version, is what gave the icon its name. The church survives to this day, though in a state of abandonment.
The wonderworking icon remained in its church in Halicarnassus of Asia Minor until 1922. Next to the church was the home of Marigitsa Takori, who was also responsible for its care. When she fled Halicarnassus amid the chaos of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, she took the icon with her as a sacred heirloom to Kalymnos, where she settled. After her death, her relatives moved to Athens, bringing the icon with them.
The people of Halicarnassus who had settled in Heraklion and founded the suburb of Nea Alikarnassos searched for the icon, but without success. The Panagia, however, granted the blessing of revealing her wonderworking icon anew to Archimandrite Timotheos Kalaberidis, former abbot of the historic Monastery of Agarathos. He traveled to Athens with a committee from Halicarnassus, where the relatives of Marigitsa handed over the icon, which was then brought to the Church of Saint Nicholas in Nea Alikarnassos.
The people of Halicarnassus who had settled in Heraklion and founded the suburb of Nea Alikarnassos searched for the icon, but without success. The Panagia, however, granted the blessing of revealing her wonderworking icon anew to Archimandrite Timotheos Kalaberidis, former abbot of the historic Monastery of Agarathos. He traveled to Athens with a committee from Halicarnassus, where the relatives of Marigitsa handed over the icon, which was then brought to the Church of Saint Nicholas in Nea Alikarnassos.
It was the deep desire of the inhabitants of Nea Alikarnassos to build a church dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos. The foundation was laid in 1986, and the church was completed and consecrated on June 29, 2003.
The icon belongs to the iconographic type of the Theotokos holding the Christ Child (Vrefokratousa). It is a portable, carved icon, unsigned, and likely the work of a Muscovite iconographer. It is dated approximately between the mid-14th and the 16th century.
The icon belongs to the iconographic type of the Theotokos holding the Christ Child (Vrefokratousa). It is a portable, carved icon, unsigned, and likely the work of a Muscovite iconographer. It is dated approximately between the mid-14th and the 16th century.
According to tradition, the feast of the Synaxis of the holy icon is celebrated on the Wednesday of Mid-Pentecost, likely the day of its discovery.
We conclude with the supplication that the Most Holy Theotokos, the “Kamariani,” may always shelter and protect all those who, with compunction and reverence, take refuge in her holy icon.
We conclude with the supplication that the Most Holy Theotokos, the “Kamariani,” may always shelter and protect all those who, with compunction and reverence, take refuge in her holy icon.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
